Toy



Janezs, 1929. l EGMAIN 1.718.792'A TOY Filed Dec. 8, 1926 @figa/Wn zw# Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES FANNIE Gr. MAIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Application filed December This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to toys wherein movement accomplislied by the 'flexible quality or energy oi an article provides amusement for a child.

The object ot the present invention is to provide a toy novelty o'li the character described, wherein simple construction and operation, economical cost, and durability are involved.

`W ith the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrange ment et parts all hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings wherein z Fig. l is an edge elevation ot a toy constructed in accordance with the present invention, with shaded sections lto indicate portions ot alternating colors.

Fig. 2 is a lace elevation ot the same.

As is well known, movement amuses and entertains a young child, especially when the moven'lent is varied. The present invention contemplates a toy largely automatic in its nature wherein the movement easily initiu ated and is prolonged hy reason oit the semiautomatic nature of the device, without eX- pending additional 'force or energy thereon. Among other things, the present invention also contemplates a varied movement wherein the device may have a number oit different maneuvers depending on the position in which it is held. The toy may also loe suspended in a fixed position and by hitting` it a varied and more or less prolonged movement may he produced 'for the amusement of very young children.

The :foregoing is accomplished by a rela tively narrow llat tape of spring metal which is coiled in a series oit convolutions, the inner convolutions being tighter or more closely wound than the outer convolutions. The 'free end of the tape terminates in a suitable handle. Thus a coil is produced, all the convolutions of which are, when the coil is passive, within the contines of the width of the tape. By grasping the handle or suspending the device from the handle, a slight movement will cause the coil formed by the tape to unwind and wind, and continue to do so until the :torce oit the original movement given thereto is expended. In the event the coil is suspended trom the handle in a fixed position, a slight tap on the coil itself will start the movement. and should the coil be held vertical or at vari ons angles to the vertical, many dilierent S, 1926. Serial No. 153,348.

characters of movements may be produced.

Reference beinghad more particularly to the drawings, l() represents a lat tap-e et spring metal which is wound into a coil as shown in Fig. l. In :forming this coil, the tape of spring metal is tightly rolled inwardly from one end thereoit into a number ot convolutions. Each progressive wind or convolution ot the spring metal tape allows a certain increased relaxation in tension over that of the preceding wind or convolution. Thus, when the wound portion of the tape has used up approximately the whole length thereof, the outer or last wound end of the tape is comparatively tree from tension.

The said tree or outer end ot said spring metal tape 10 terminates in a handle l1. By grasping the handle ll and thereby holding the coil in suspension, the free or outer end of the tape 10 will yield to the weight of the inner or tightly rolled end thereof. Thus, said inner or tightly rolled end retains its coiled lorm and by a slight movement. of the handle l1 may be made to roll down the inner side oit the spring metal tape 10 because of the spring reaction formed by the yielding quality thereof. In thus rolling away from the handle l1, the inner or tightly rolled end gains momentum suiiicient to cause a series of ceiling and recoiling movements.

The ceiling and recoiling movements accomplished in the manner set forth above may be applied in obtaining a wide variety ot winding and spiral etl'ects. For example, if the movement of the coil is directed in a vertical plane, the effect will be a winding and unwinding of the coil with a swaying movement confined to a vertical plane. VVhil-e, on the other hand, by directing the movement of the coil laterally, the weight oil the inner or tightly wound end of the coil will cause a lateral swaying effect ol the tape, in com bination with the production oi various conical shapes. The foregoing examples may be multiplied indefinitely by moving the coil in planes at diil'erent angles to the vertical.

To add to the childs fascination thus produced, the device may be variegated with bright colors (illustrated by the shading on the metal tape l0) so to combine attractive color effects with the unlimited variety of contortions and shapes possible with this toy.

@wing it its simple construction, and also because ol the material of which it is made,

the present toy may be subjected to extremely ranged substantially tnngential to the coiled rough use Without injury to its function, and portion oi the strip and resting in the plane l0 is therefore manifestly especially adapted to of said coiled portion, said coiled portion its place in a'childs toy collection. yielding of its own weight to produce un- 5 What is claimed is: ceiling and coiling movements upon the A toy, including a metal strip coiled into movement of the handle.

a single plane at one end and having a handle secured to the other end thereof, ar- FANN IE G. MAIN. 

